Patron of the award
Greeting  from the Prime Minister of the State of Hesse

Avicenna, the physician and scholar lived around 1000 years ago. The theme, for which Avicenna´s name signifies, is the bridging between the diverse cultures which is more actual today than it ever has been. This theme also applies to Hesse, where more than 12 percent of the populace are foreign, with diverse cultural origins which cohabitate together. The integration of immigrants is becoming increasingly more important, not just for the state of peace and harmony, but also for the image of Hesse. The Hessian Parliament takes this issue extremely seriously and with pride it can be ascertained that Hessen is a place open to the world, an attractive and modern business location, a region of peaceful and constructional togetherness, a place of tolerance and reciprocal respect. Based on the fundament values from the German law and the Hessian constitution, the citizens in Hesse with their varied traditions, religions and life styles live in harmony with each other. Though, the actual political state of the world explicitly infers that peace and tolerance between diverse cultures are not a matter of course, but one of the greatest challenges of our society in the 21st century. That’s why the intercultural exchange is an imperative necessity, so that we are able to deepen the understanding of the diverse cultures and to encourage the furtherance of this.

The Avicenna Award Association has dedicated itself to this immense challenge in an exceptional manner by bestowing this international prize. With this distinction, for which I with great pleasure hold patronage, persons and institutions will be honoured, that have accomplished an outstanding intercultural exchange, thus promoting the harmonic coexistence of persons with diverse cultures. The name of the award is adapted from the oriental physician and philosopher Avicenna, who is as equally important for the Christians as well as for the Muslims and whose life and works are remarkably appropriate to represent intercultural understanding. The privately founded Avicenna Award encourages the peaceful venture of persons from diverse cultures and bridges the Orient and the Occident.

My special thanks go to the initiators of the association, those that have established the award, the Jury whom have the task of determining a Prize winner, and the Advisory Board, founded to counsel the association. I wish the Avicenna Award Association every success with their prodigious challenge.

Award and the award winner

Patron of the award